For those that needed fun in their lives and lives in their fun then they needn’t have looked any further than The Drums’ Laneway sideshow at the Metro. All three acts that performed offered plenty of opportunities for “Fun, fun, fun” with their infectiously happy tunes, plus effervescent and pithy observations. It was almost like the dress code for the venue had stipulated that you had to be wearing a smile.

Sometimes words can't do justice to the beauty music can evoke. You have to experience it for yourself. At the very least, I don't consider myself a good enough writer to do so. Tonight at the Sydney Opera House brings me one such moment, where UK songstress Laura Marling embraced a sold out crowd performing her latest record A Creature I Don't Know in full (for the first time), and a second set of favourites from her first two records.

Pictured: Portugal. The Man.

Pictured: M83.

Not a cloud could be found as we made our way to the St Jerome's Laneway Festival in Sydney. Indeed, the sun had come out to play on a typically beautiful Sydney summer day (which we haven't seen much of this year); a stark contrast to the weather of last year and a very welcome start to what would be a stellar day of music.

The irony of hosting Melbourne’s hippest festival in the western suburbs will never grow old and while the party has been in its new home for the third year running, some minor teething problems are yet to be eradicated, so let’s get the whinging out of the way first.

Last here in early 2010 for a run of sold out shows (including two in Melbourne), New York’s The Pains of Being Pure At Heart are back as part of the Laneway Festival circuit. Playing the first of only two sideshows while they are out here, the pop darlings wowed the crowd and left many fans satisfied. Along for the ride were local favourites Geoffrey O’Connor and Pop Singles.

Yesterday the sun came out in Sydney, without a cloud in sight, and the revellers came out in force, selling out the 2012 Laneway Festival in the mid afternoon.

Bands M83 (pictured above), Feist, The Drums, Cults and Active Child received among the largest crowds (and singalongs thanks to their triple j hits) of the day, while the sun ensured a fair few festival goers would leave with a good red glow.